So, I am the proud new owner of a 2011 QX56 with all the options, I love this vehicle, it has the entertainment package, tech package, and touring package. With that being said, during the extended test drive, I noticed a very noticeable steering wheel vibration/shake that could be felt and seen quite forcefully. One of the first things I told the salesperson was the tires needed to be balanced or something (this had 3 miles on it when I test drove it). I put close to 50 on the test drive, the vibration did not go away. We came to a deal and then he took it to service, a tech said the vehicle may have been sitting for quite a while (I imagine so a 70k vehicle in this economy), and developed flat spots on the tires and it will take a few hours of driving to get rid of them. Well I drove home almost 100 miles and still there. I don't necessarily buy the fact that they will "go away" with time, I think either they were too lazy to balance the tires, or the fact that the wheels and tires are 22", and the fact it is a heavy vehicle has led to permanent flat spots.

The dealer did say if it did not go away they would swap tires, or whatever it took, but on a 70k vehicle you would think you would have a ride smooth as silk.

What are other people thinking?? I have worked very hard for what I have in life and want a nice family vehicle, but the vibration will ruin the experience.

Thoughts/suggestions?

I'd take them up on their offer to replace the tires or go to another dealer and see what they say. However the original dealer has the most motivation to make you happy.

yeah, I am going to give it till Tuesday and if the problem has not fixed itself, I will demand they balance first, and if that does not fix it, put new tires on the car. I just find it weird that they would let a luxury vehicle ride like that thinking it would correct itself. I was reading an article on tire rack that says vehicles that sit for extended periods of time usually have permanent flat spots on tires and cannot be fixed...I don't know when I had my Armada in '09, it was an '08 that never sold, and it had the same problem, but a balance fixed it smooth as silk...I told them that at the Dealer (different dealer), and they said if they balanced before I took delivery and the "flat spots" worked themselves out, then it would throw out of balance and I would need done again.

Congrats on your purchase. That is a nice vehicle. My cousin in Jacksonville, FL owns one and the ride is like "butta".

For the price you are paying, the least they could do is balance your tires.

Flat spots do develop from sitting, and "can" go away from driving. but it takes time. I would wait one week, take it back and have them balance the tires. Ask if they were out of balance and how much. Test drive with a Service manager immediately, and return it right then if it is not smooth. They should be able to mount and balnce new tires in one hour. Explain to them on the phone, what your plan is, so they can start as soon as they open.

I agree with Titan Blue.

yeah for 70K I would demand perfection

2011 Qx 4x4 Tech and Tour pkg we bought Aug 2 2010. After diving it a year we have 21,000 miles, yeah we drove it! I will first say we love it! Added dual exhaust to get rid of the minivan rear end. It sounds great. Spent the whole year looking for 24" wheels with no luck. I don't like the Lexanni and Diablo's so if anyone has seen some other brand in chrome let me know. The off set on the front is much diff than the 2010. I have a extremely moded Titan and it gets better gas mileage than the 2011 QX. This thing likes the gas! I had an 2006 QX and was like a prius compared to this 2011 :) not really but it was better. The 2011 has a smaller gas tank so I'm filling up every week. I feel the sonar sensors in the rear are not picking up until it is almost too late, I liked the 06's better. The ride is awesome and the fact that there were very few shipped to the U.S. makes it nice that normally you don't see them everywhere. That being said, I live in a collage town of 50,000 and there are 7 here and one my exact color on my very street :) The power is much better. I raced the 06 before we sold it and 2011 is little quicker off the line even with the 06 being Bully Dog tuned. I tow a large boat and feel the 06 towed it better than the 2011?? not sure why but it is notable. The 2011 really sucks the gas under the tow of the boat. Not a fan of the auto seat stow button in the rear, takes too long, would rather just be able too lay them down. Miss the arm rest and hate the console lid that slides when you brake. All in all, I really like the 2011 as well as are a little more than our 2006. I like the way the front end looks compared to the "pig" look of the 2006. However, I like the rear of the 2006 better.

Last week while driving home in a storm here in Okla, a tree fell across the front of the 2011 QX while my wife was driving 30mph. The tree crushed the roof, winsheild and hood of the QX. My wife and daughter were in the front seats, they were both unsratched and are fine. The windshield collapesd a foot back into the cabin and did not have a hole in it anywhere?? This suv saved their lives, a smaller car would have not fared so well, its worth the price and gas milage. I will post pic of the crash later...:bow:

sorry ment to start a new thread, did not intend to hijack..

Well I have had my QX for some time now, and have put over 4000 miles on it. I had taken the vehicle back to the dealer after 500 miles to have them road force them, and it rode good until 77-80 mph, and then there was vibration/shimmy in the steering I drove it till my first service this past weekend and they re-road force balanced the tires. A little better but still not much. I drive alot in VA and WV where speed limits are normally 70 and traffic usually goes 77-79mph easily. They (the dealership) said they could not test drive the vehicle that fast to see the problem as speed limit is 55/65 where they are in MD. Anyways, I am just going to chalk it up to that is the way these wretched tires ride and am going to look for new tires. It's a shame that only Bridgestone makes tires in this size.

I have 3k on my 12 with the 22s and am noting some steering wheel vibration between 60 and 70 that I don't like. Nothing serious but noticeable. Any updates from others that have had dealers look at this?

im rocking 2500 ish miles with 22s (2012 model year) and no such vibration as yet. 4X4.

keep this thread going....

I would have never left the Dealer until he changed all Four tires.Remember years ago when Ford and Firestone where having a war about Rollovers.I purchased a new Ford Excursition which had Firestone tires on it.I made the Dealer replace them with Goodyears or I would not take the Truck.

I would have never left the Dealer until he changed all Four tires.Remember years ago when Ford and Firestone where having a war about Rollovers.I purchased a new Ford Excursition which had Firestone tires on it.I made the Dealer replace them with Goodyears or I would not take the Truck.

For $70K I would have made them get me new rims and tires


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Flat spots are very common for these vehicles. They are heavy and if they have sat in one place on the lot for extended periods of time the flat spots will not go away either. I purchased a 2011 Armada Platinum 2 months ago. When I went to do the test drive the vibration was severe. They brought out another one same issue. Looked at the inventory sheet and both had been on the lot for over 6 months. I noticed they had just gotten in a 2012 built that month. Told them take the wheels and tires off of the 2012 and put them on mine or no deal. They did and it was smooth as silk. Dealers sometimes get lazy and don't move their stock around regularly and thus on heavy vehicles they will get flat spots that do not come out.

One other option you have is this. Inflate the tires to max pressure listed on the sidewall. Drive on the highway for an 30min-hour. The heat and the increased pressure may bend the steel belts back to form. If not the tires will never get rid of the vibration.

If flat spots are not worked out within 400-500 miles they usually never go away.

Good luck

My wife had a 2006 M35 with about 18000 miles on it. It went to the dealer one day for standard maint. The dealer replaced all the tires because Infiniti said the tires on the car had to stiff a side wall.You should demand new tires!

Flat spots can be corrected one of two ways, replace all affected tires or re balance them to offset the flat spots. Infiniti will take care of you and it makes sense that they would ask you to drive it, most cases will go away with a small amount of driving.